Last season, the Dallas Cowboys were a disappointment. Sure, for the third year in a row, the team won 12 regular season games. But the Cowboys once again failed to make a meaningful playoff run. As a result, Head Coach Mike McCarthy and company are on the hot seat heading into 2024.
From a dynasty viewpoint, this should mean we will get the very best that the Dallas offensive skill players have to offer. For this article, we will sort through each offensive player to uncover their dynasty value and outlook for the future. Without further ado, let us dive into the Dallas Cowboys roster for 2024.
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL. Some see him as a top-notch signal caller capable of amassing incredible stats and scoring a ton of fantasy points along the way. Others see him as a choke artist who fails when the lights are the brightest. No matter where you stand on Prescott, one thing is certain: he scores a ton of fantasy points.
Despite coming off of his best season ever, Prescott enters the season with no contract assurances. A dual-threat playmaker, he reached his fantasy peak last season after topping out as QB3 overall. Prescott was a true league winner for his dynasty managers. Mike McCarthy is a play caller who has been noted for his fondness of the passing game. With very little in the running back room on this team, you can expect Prescott to lead the way for the offense.
With one of the best wide receivers in the league at his disposal, you can safely expect Prescott to once again function as a high-end QB1. He is one of my favorite Superflex assets to manage. He is a truly elite playmaker who gives you numbers only the top-echelon signal callers can. The 2024 season will be an audition for Prescott to become the highest-paid player in the league. Whether it be with the Cowboys or elsewhere, he will be looking to secure his future this year on the field with plays like these.
You can't watch the All 22 film and tell me Dak Prescott isn't an elite QB. This is pure precision passing from 50 yards, 40 yards, 30 yards, guys in his face, pressure plays in the end zone. The only other QB's making these throws are Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers.#Cowboys pic.twitter.com/OXhUKtTz2o
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) July 20, 2024
Despite being an extremely talented and reliable dynasty player, Prescott comes at a nice value. Compared to players like Patrick Mahomes, C.J. Stroud, and Lamar Jackson, the price for Prescott is quite affordable. I would personally expect to pay at least two first-round picks for a player capable of being a Top-5 QB. But when searching the Dynasty Nerds trade browser, I have found multiple examples of managers paying a single first and a couple of lesser assets. At prices like this, I believe that Prescott might be the best value in Superflex.
The Backups
The Cowboys have zero competition at the quarterback position. Barring injury, Prescott will see every meaningful snap. However, that does not mean they have no talent on the roster behind him.
Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are currently the second and third QBs on the roster. Lance was a former high-end first-round pick, and the 49ers gave up a ton of draft capital to select him just a few short years ago. If you play in a Superflex league with extremely deep rosters, he could be a stash for next year in case he lands on a soft depth chart in free agency.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott is out to prove that you can, in fact, go back home. After spending the first seven years of his career in Dallas, Elliott spent 2023 with the Patriots. He showed that despite being far from the All-Pro he was in the past, he still had some tread left on the tires. In particular, “Zeke” Elliott was quite useful in the passing game, where he still excels as a blocker.
In his 1st game as lead back in New England, Zeke Elliott: 29 touches, 140 yards, 1 TD vs #6 defense in league.
— Bill Jones (@CBS11BillJones) December 8, 2023
Patriots snap 5 game losing streak, 21-18, at Pittsburgh
pic.twitter.com/t1GYFcvdqB
This offseason the Cowboys shocked fans by not adding a single big-name free agent or draft pick at the RB position. This was all despite losing last year’s starter, Tony Pollard. After the dust settled the Dallas Cowboys chose to bring back Elliott on a one-year deal to help stabilize the ship.
This will likely be the last ride for Elliott as a dynasty asset. The Cowboys gave him a one-year, $2 million contract. He should still be able to help your win-now squads. Under no circumstances would I roster Zeke unless I was trying to win. If you are, he could still be of some use. Zeke Elliott has always been a producer and will likely carry a sizable role given the lack of talent in the running back room.
Now comes the best part about Zeke. If you are a team looking to compete in 2024, you will find few, if any, cheaper playable options than Zeke. When you take a look at the Dynasty Nerds trade browser, you will find some really cheap deals. I have seen him recently go for as little as a third-round pick (or two). At that price, sign me up on every contending team. Zeke should be a fine depth option. I would expect him to have around 1,000 total yards once again. More importantly, he could be a candidate to put up a double-digit TD season. Give me that all day at these prices.
Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle is one of the toughest Dallas Cowboys to get a read on. The former South Carolina Gamecock has spent the last four years on the Cowboys roster. The undrafted free agent has flashed some really nice potential along the way.
Rico Dowdle finds the end zone to open the Cowboys scoring against the Commanders 💥pic.twitter.com/BanxG8DpVE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 23, 2023
Like Zeke, Dowdle is on a one-year contract. He is making a little less money than Elliott, but the difference is not enough to put it out of the realm of possibility that Dowdle could have a meaningful role. He could even potentially snatch the starting job away if Zeke struggles. I believe Elliott will be the starter with Dowdle serving an expanded role.
Rico Dowdle should be rostered in every league. He could provide some flex points even if he isn’t technically the starter in Dallas. More importantly, he is a pretty cheap option. A search of the Dynasty Nerds trade browser shows Dowdle being traded for a late-round pick or two. At prices that cheap, why wouldn’t you roster Rico Dowdle?
The Backups
As things currently stand, Elliott and Dowdle seem the most likely candidates to start and have meaningful roles. There are still a couple of interesting options on the roster behind them. Deuce Vaughn could certainly find his way into a pass-catching role. The real threat to Elliott and Dowdle is the possibility the Cowboys will bring in some additional competition. Watch for the Dallas Cowboys to sniff around any running back talent that is jettisoned throughout training camp around the league.
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb
The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is structured around a single alpha wide receiver. Gone are the days when they had multiple legitimate playmakers on the outside. To be sure, CeeDee Lamb is not the only proven playmaker the Cowboys possess. But it is hard to trust anyone outside of Lamb.
Lamb is the golden tuna on the Dallas Cowboys roster. The former first-round pick has developed into one of the very best WRs in the NFL. Since arriving in Dallas out of Oklahoma, he has steadily gotten better each and every season. You can see through his numbers below that he has gotten better in every category from year to year.
Over the last two seasons, Lamb has proven himself to be a truly elite dynasty asset. In 2022, he put up his first Top-12 wide receiver season, ending up as the WR5 overall. Last season, Lamb managed to end at the top of the heap as the no. 1 overall WR in the entire NFL. At just 25-years old, this makes him an extremely valuable asset in your dynasty leagues. Check out some of his highlights below.
I’m bored, so here’s 31 minutes worth of CeeDee Lamb Highlights pic.twitter.com/YRYEIgLDVQ
— FergSZN (@FergSZN) June 30, 2024
The only real risk that I see with Lamb is his contract. Currently, he is holding out of Dallas Cowboys camp. The dynasty stud is entering the last year of his contract and is angling for a new deal. There is some risk that Lamb could sit out a couple of games, which would be a blow to his short-term value. However, once he is back in the fold, you better believe that both he and his quarterback will look to light up the scoreboard.
When it comes to his value, don’t expect to find any discounts on Lamb. A search of the Dynasty Nerds trade browser will reveal that the price of Lamb is rightfully steep. But I would happily trade any WR in this loaded class for Lamb’s certainty. If you can somehow swing a trade of Marvin Harrison Jr. or the draft pick to acquire him for Lamb, that is a deal I am willing to make for a guaranteed 25-year-old stud.
Brandin Cooks
As things currently stand in Big D, Brandin Cooks is the next man up behind CeeDee Lamb. The former first-round pick has enjoyed a banner career to this point. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Cooks has been on the Brandon Marshall career arch. That is to say that despite playing extremely well everywhere he has been, he is continuously moved out of town. You can see from his stats below that he is creeping up on 10,000 career yards after posting 1,000-yard campaigns for 4 different teams.
Cooks has been a speed merchant throughout his career. Much like a former Cowboy, Joey Gallaway, he has maintained that speed into his 30s. Last year, Cooks saw some of the lowest numbers of his career. Despite this, he clearly still has some playmaking ability left in the tank. Dynasty managers need to look no further than his game against the Giants, where he torched the division rivals in his best game of the season.
Brandin Cooks
— Snoog’s Dynasty Society (@FFSnoog) November 14, 2023
– WR3
– 10 targets
– 173 receiving yards
– 32.30 fantasy points
If Cooks maintains his high-level performance, he's poised to become the clear WR2 in Dallas.
With Dak's elite play, Cooks will remain a reliable flex play going forward.pic.twitter.com/3rjRIlX065
Heading into 2024, Cooks could be a really nice gamble for contending teams. The aging playmaker is an established veteran with the presence to operate as a WR1 if Lamb does hold out. Cooks would be the primary beneficiary of any extended Lamb contract disputes. Prescott would still be angling for a new deal himself and looking to put up high-end stats across the board. Cooks could be a sneaky Top-24 wide receiver on the season if things play out in his favor.
The best part about Cooks is his cheap price. A search of the Dynasty Nerds trade browser shows the former Oregon State star going for as little as a mid-round pick or even moving back a few spots in your rookie draft. For a contender, that is a price I am willing to pay to add some quality depth to round out my squad. Even if he is no better than he was last season (when he was the WR36 overall pick), he is still a flex play and a worthy bench player.
Jalen Tolbert
Jalen Tolbert is the wild card within the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room. The former third-round pick is a physical freak out of South Alabama. He dominated the competition for the Jaguars. Tolbert left school as a two-time first-team All-Sun Belt selection and the 2021 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year after setting numerous school records.
.GAME FILM🎬: WR Jalen Tolbert — South Alabama — Cowboys 3rd Rd Pick #dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/Gpgivw24NX
— The Cowboys Network (@TheCowboysNet) June 18, 2022
As you would expect for a player coming out of a small school, Tolbert has taken some time to develop. In fact, he had single games in college where he put up stats similar to those he compiled over his first two seasons in the NFL. Despite Tolbert’s lack of heavy usage, he has flashed and saw some incremental improvements last season.
If CeeDee Lamb were to hold out as it appears he will, there could be a sizable opportunity for Tolbert. As a player of his limited production, Tolbert comes at a very cheap price. In fact, I will bet there are a number of leagues out there where Tolbert is currently sitting on the waiver wire. Playing on a high-volume passing attack with a quarterback and coach laboring to save their jobs, the sky is the limit for Tolbert. And hell, if he ends up being nothing, he came at nearly giveaway prices.
The Backups
The Cowboys do not feature many intriguing depth players at the receiver position. Sure, they have return men like KaVontae Turpin, who are interesting in leagues that score return yards. But, aside from him, I see precious little that I would want to roster on anything but the deepest of dynasty rosters. Watch for the Cowboys to be trade deadline players later in the summer when other teams begin to trim down their rosters.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson
Next to Lamb, Jake Ferguson is the skill player on the Dallas Cowboys roster I am most interested in. The third-year player out of Wisconsin had a breakout season in 2023, taking over for the departed Dalton Schultz.
Ferguson managed to establish a firm connection with Dak Prescott, who has consistently relied on his starting tight end. From Jason Witten all the way to Ferguson, if a man is open over the middle of the field, Prescott will find him. In a landscape with numerous emerging TEs, the 25-year-old Ferguson is the perfect target for both rebuilding and contending squads.
Jake Ferguson in year two looks like Dalton Schultz in year three. It's not sexy, but it's extremely effective. Good catch radius, nice concentration, and some tough running after the catch. He's developing quite well. pic.twitter.com/8tQhxGxY71
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) October 3, 2023
Ferguson offers you the best of both worlds. Not only did he finish last season as a Top-12 tight end, but he also came at a decent price. Now, don’t get me wrong; Ferguson will not be dirt cheap. But any time I can get a 25-year-old starting player for less than a first-round pick, sign me up for that deal any day and every day.
The Backups
The Dallas Cowboys do have an intriguing player on the depth chart behind Ferguson. Last year’s second-round pick, Luke Schoonmaker, still carries some appeal. It is hard to see Ferguson being simply passed on the depth chart based on play. But if an opening were to emerge, the former Michigan Wolverine has the skill set to be a three-down player for the Cowboys. He has a relatively soft pair of hands and has the draft capital that will carry some weight if he ever does get a chance to shine.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Dallas Cowboys are a team desperately looking to get over the hump. Under the leadership of Mike McCarthy, the team has enjoyed some regular season success but has come up short when the rubber hits the road. There are a couple of really high-end assets on this team that every dynasty manager should look to roster.
With Prescott and Lamb both entering the final year of their respective deals and Elliott on his last leg, it’s now or never for the Dallas Cowboys. There will be some tough choices to make at the end of this season. Only time will tell how it plays out, but rest assured that the Cowboys will be fun to watch in 2024. Do yourself a favor and get some of America’s team into your lineup.
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